Pipe-tongs.



J. DE w. MEREDITH.

I PIPE TONGS. APPLICATION FILED IULY12,1913.

Patented July 21, 1914.

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' "iaoassolf a 7 NV-DE s mm-or Be it known that I, JOHN D..Mmmnrrn, a citizen of the United State s, and a resident of Burkburnett, inthe county of Wichita. and State of Texas, have invented ape-wand useful; Im rovement 'in- Pipe-Tongs, of

j which the chewing is a specification.

1 detail perspective My invention is an improvement in pipe tongs, and has for" its object to provide tongs of the characterfspeeified, especially adapted for usewith' vertically arranged pipes, whereini fiexible elasping mechanism is provided, capable of being quickly arranged to encircle the pipe or-to release the same, and having gripping mechanism movable with respect-to the clasping inechanisin r prov ded on its concave face 'with'ii seriesoi to evenly and uniformly engage the pipe. 7 v In the drawings: Figure 1' is aside view of the improved tongs-with parts in section, Fig; 2 is a bottom plan view, and Fig3 is a View of -one ofthe grip ping jaws.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a handle or shank 1, hav1ng one end reduced and polygonal in erossseetion as shown at '2, .for engagement by an exten;

sion handle, not sho'wn',.andnear the opposite, end the handle or shank 'is provided -with oppositely extending. stops or abutments3. a

Flexible gri-ppingineehanism is connected with the handle or shank. at the end adja cent to the-al'nit nents, the said mechanism to encircle a pipe. a

comprising three links 4, 5 and 6. The .links 4 and 5 are pivoted to the handle, and the linkl is pivoted to the link 5, and the links stand (1 have interlocking mechanism to' permit the .flexible, gripping mechanism I The link4 is provided lat one'end with laterally spaced ears or lugs 7, the said lugs being received on opposite sides of the handle or shank, and a pivot pin or rivet 8 is 'passed through the-lugs and the end of thcshank to pivotally connect the link to the shank; The link 5 is also provided with -said lugs are received npon opposite sides of the shank or hal'ulie and pivoted thereto by a ri et 10. The link 5 is pivoted to the shank or handle intermediate of the'abutmerits-3, and the adjacent end of the handle, andthe abutnients are designed to 'engage the llflkdZO' limit-the swinging-move ment of the said link and the link' 6 away x -Atlitsu rendsg thelinkfifisred ieedo a pui-poseto be presently describe 'piv otally connect th'e'links 5 and fi;

transyer'selyf arranged ratchet teethf lfithe said teeth facing in thejgSamedireetionQ It 5 will be note'd,iroin-"eninspectionofalii 1 l and .3, that .each ofpthe' teethj l 'l'has approximately perpehdiciilar" ito th v and a"willl. .-inelinedf.oi"appr im el r-': 1' 1 ,allel w'itlithefaceoffthejaw 13m jaw.

provided:onitsfeonvei-faee Each 10f the linked, 5 andfiis 1 P8 or curved longitudinally,. and the links are. i arranged'with their concave ,sideS i' faces inwardly. The jaws lG-aire arranged on ftlie Y inner or'eoneave sides of.the;links,'g with,the

lug 18 ofthe jaw e'xtendingin'to thelslot or" recess 15 of thelink, and a'pivot pinjgQIiSl passed through the link andthe opening19 1 ofthe li gtohpivo tally 'conneetthe 'w"to;95 thelink, f If p t The jaws are soarranged withrespeet to eachother'iliiitthe teeth. lfi:alh;faeeinlthe' same clirection. The hook 14;;of ;the,link 6 is 'adaptedltolengage the outer. end' of the slot or recess 15- of the link iyafsf-"shownj-in Fig; 5, to lockthe links in position .ofilthe pipe. 'lhe linkfi is provided in-theflreeessa ,or slot '15 a'vith v a. transversefhar, 21, d, 1 a

set screw 2-2 is'threaded thmughthe bar, the" 106 inner'endof the ,set screw engaging the in v I ner end of-the handle or shank 1. T i l v,

In use, the tongsor wrench is engaged with the pipe-as shown in Fig.1, the links ,5 and 6 passing around the pipe in one direo 10 tion and the link.4' in the'othefl The hook:

Y 14 ofthe'link :6 is engaged 'with the out r Y tongs especiallyadnptedffor'use in'p'laclinks 4 and 6 to p reach the pipe} O thei'pe; the handl the handle moves in the direetion the arrow .pl'oints, the gripping jaws will engage the pipe closely, while when the handleor grip is movedin-t'he' opposite direction, the teeth:

.;i-"of"the jaws-will-'slip"-idly over the pipe to permit the-tengs'to secnrea new grasp; The llnleflf'is pl'bVlded With acurved extens onat lts'ontei' end; the sa d extension form'- ing a finger piecefor moving the link permit-the {engagement and dis'en agement of n ie-110 1; not the link 6. The'improveding pipe; or casing in oil wells,o'r in any othenfsitxiatidif where the'pipe' is vertical."

The-gripping v mechanism will neither crnsh the pipe nor slip; and the clasping -niiecha nisfngna y be quicklyplaeed'or'removed.

1 The improved tongs are manufactured-in sizes, enesize for each size of p'ipe','.i'an'd they willpreferably be made- 0f forged steel. On-this necount, the tongs will be of eensiderable' weight and an eye bolt\ 24! is 7 providedat -oneside' of tl1e"handle for eonvenien'ce an-swingmg the handle. p p F r *aln'use, since the gripping "jaws are-i piv-'" otedfto the links,- thetongs will adjust itself eloselyto the pipe,.and there will be a uni-- ,forni strain on'all of the pivot pins 20. The

set-screw 22 is iised to preventthe jaws V er-asking the pipe; During-the placing "of the links around-the pipe, the serew is loosened-,1- and when the "links have been placed the screw is tightened to eause'the ing" the pipe. Before the tongs are gripped on the-pipe,-the screw is turned-so that the flexible: jaws willxgrasp the pipe'wfirmlyl lV-he zr-r-thehandleis moved in a direction to,

ea'u'sethe jaws to gripthe'pipe, the ehains screw; they; are checked in. their,'inovelnent elaim.:-- j vlxPip'e tongs'compmslng a handle, in v or links close against the set screw and whe'n'the said; links .orchains engagelthe setl toward the pipe.

arceshaped' link pivoted to one end ofthe handle, a second arc-shaped link pivoted to the? handle on' theinner side of the first e re d Q w ein. the irection of the arrow in Fig. 13.1 When '-tion flit-hithiefree'exids of the linksforiconinecting'the said free ends, and means in eonnectiqn -with -thelinlrof the series adjacent to thef handle and adjustable with respect.

G the linkson the pipe. 1 s jaws to grip the pipe. The obje'etof the set i -'.screw-':22 is to prevent the tongs from crush n edj ent ,th'e onneetion third re-shaped linkpivofathe last-named link,

Sid ,4 y each-,of jhegsaid'links hav-. mg I oiidina'li alot-or recessextending thron hia: link, thelast-nameddink havi "e; ands i in jaw in connection with ga hdink,egdlfihw beingi-are-shaped to? fit ythe concave'face"iof.the' link. and each of p "the said jaws havinga' longitudinally"ex- I 1 lending-lug on its -concave face engaging the recess of the adjacent-link, a pivot pin passing through the link; and the lug for'pivot aHy 'co'nneeting'; the --'jaw to the link, and -means for tightening the links on thepipe.

1. 2; Pipe tongs; comprismga, handle, a 'link' pivoted to the handle atone end, a series of 1 inks pivoted to the handle near the said end and extending in the opposite direction from the first-namddink; means in connec- 1tion' 'with 'the freeends ofthe links for coninecting' said free ends, and aset screw threaded through the link of the series" ad- 8 jacent-ftdthe' handle an'd engaging the said -handle)adjacenttoTther-fconnection of the 'firstfliamed-lin'k.for adjlisting the links ,on

the-pipe;

'end' and extending in the opposite direction I from the first-named.- link, means in connecthereto? and engaging the handle to tighten I 4;P'pe tongs, 'comprising a' rigid handle, a flexible member for-embracing a pipe halving one end pivoted to one end of the him-- dle;-'and having theother end pivoted vto the handle adjacent to the skid end'and spaced apart therefrom and provided intermediate its ends; with, wreleasable connection, and 'means" in: connection end 'o fgthenflexible member and adjustable 'withlrespeetvtliereto'ior en agingthe adiaeent end-I of": the handle wfith the last-named I or 1 the purpose speeified.'=.." ""QJOHN. DE WITT, MEREDITH. Witnes ses:.' ,4

Maoist.

g dwith theireoncave V ongs, comprising lalhandle, a links -pivoted; toflthe handle at one end, a series 

